Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers on Tuesday approved the appeal request by state Attorney General George Jepsen.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher ruled earlier this month in an 11-year-old lawsuit that the state must submit plans to overhaul its education system and change its school funding formula within 180 days.

Jepsen says the legislative and executive branches _ not a judge _ should determine state education policy.

The lawsuit was filed by a coalition of municipalities, school boards, parents and students. It claims the current system relies too heavily on local property taxes and results in a big gap in test scores between students in rich and poor towns.